Every PlayStation 4 game to be downloadable

Like the Vita, every PlayStation 4 game will be available as a download, while some will remain available on Blu-ray discs. Sony also hinted that its services could be bundled in tiered "packages."

As you may have suspected from the direction of technology trends, Sony has confirmed that all PlayStation 4 games will be available to download. Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida has said the system will be similar to the Vita, focusing on the digital marketplace with only some of its games available on physical media.

"We're shifting our platform more and more to the digital side - PS4 will be similar to PS Vita in that every game will be available as a digital download, and some will also be available as a disc," Yoshida told The Guardian (via CVG). "The Witness will be a digital release and because of the flexibility of the digital distribution scheme, we can have more small games that might be free or available for a couple of dollars, or different services like free-to-play or subscription models."

Yoshida also said that ultimately, Sony would like to offer tiered subscription models for its content. "As more and more services and contents become available digitally, we'll have more of an option to create attractive packages," he said. "So hypothetically we can look at different models - like a cable TV company. We could have gold, silver or platinum levels of membership, something like that. We can do subscription services when we have more content - especially now that we have the Gaikai technology available. With one subscription you have access to thousands of games - that's our dream."

We heard similar comments about a wider pricing range from CEO Jack Tretton last week. Word of an all-encompassing digital model is unsurprising, but Sony's Jim Ryan told IGN that Blu-rays are still the physical media plan for the foreseeable future.

Steve Watts

Editor-In-Chief

Steve Watts' youthful memories are are a blur of pixels, princesses, castles, and Mega Busters. After writing about games as a pastime for years, he got his first shot at a paid gig at 1UP. He's freelanced for several sites since then, and found a friendly home at Shacknews. His editorial duties include news, reviews, features, and lunatic ravings. He lives in the Baltimore-Washington area with his shockingly understanding wife.